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New Year's Business Shape-Up

Now that we've settled back in after the holidays, it's not too late to make some New Year's business resolutions. Remember, the more realistic they are, the more likely it is that you'll actually implement them! Here are some possibilities:

Protect your data! As many as 72% of businesses that suffer major data loss disappear within two years.

Cut costs by working smarter. Is your organization lean or bloated?

Make the social scene. Engage customers in person, build relationships, investigate the potential of social media.

Understand your top ten customers. Are you treating them royally? Where can you find more like them?

Celebrate the past year's milestones. Motivate your employees by playing up goals that have been reached--they're more likely to be receptive when you trot out the next set of goals.

Make it clear that each employee matters! Make sure each and every employee knows how his or her job (with its achievable standards and timetables) impacts the company's overall vision.

Give something back to your community (or to Haitian relief). It's a great way to build goodwill for you and your business--much more importantly, it's the right thing to do.

Ditch what's not working for you and move on. Not every idea is a good idea--ditto products, sales methods, vendors, contractors, distribution chains, and on and on. Recognize the unworkable and say farewell.

Stop putting it off! Equipment, location, personnel, maintenance--whatever the needed change is, whether you've been putting it off for a day or a month or a year, find the way and the willpower to get it done!

Learn something new. Is the way you've always done things as effective as it was in the past? How effective will it be in the future? New days may well require new ways. Learn what they are and what they can do for you.